The Historical Records Survey, a federal project under the Works Progress Administration, has been almost forgotten by historians, although it was conducted largely for their benefit. Those who have used the WPA's city and state guides know the value of such projects to the researcher or curious visitor. In Working with history, Burl Noggles rescues the cultural riches of the HRS that grew out of the 'Search for America' movement of the 1930s. He claims that the HRS in the 1930s 'paid more attention to the history of more American counties than historians have ever paid, before then or since.'.